WEBVTT RSED A CANDIDATE OR SAID IFTHEY WILL.KE TV NEWSWATCH 7'S KRISTYNAENGDAHL IS IN THE NEWSROOM WITHKRISTYNA: -- WAS MORE.KRISTYNA: JULIE, WE EXPECT MOREINFORMATION TOMORROW.AS WE KNOW, THIS MAYORAL RACEHAS BEEN A LONG TOPIC OFDISCUSSION AMONG OPOAMEMBERSHIP, INCLUDING TODAY.WE UNDERSTAND MEMBERSHIP METTODAY.CARS PACKED INTO THE UNION HALLTO DISCUSS WHAT'S NEXT, WHETHERTHEY ENDORSE EITHER CANDIDATE ORCONTINUE TO STAY OUT OF IT.OPOA LEADERSHIP DECLINED TO TALKON CAMERA, BUT WOULD SAY EACHMEMBER'S OPINION IS CONSIDEREDBEFORE MAKING A DECISION.ONE CRITERIA CONSIDERED INMAKING AN ENDORSEMENT, ACANDIDATE'S STANCE ON PUBLICSAFETY.OF COURSE, THAT CAME UP ATTONIGHT'S MAYORAL DEBATE, WHICHDREW ARGUMENT AND FINGERPOINTING FROM BOTH SIDES.SEN. MELLO: JUST TWO WEEKS AGO,SPEAKING TO A FRONT LINE POLICEOFFICER AT A FISH FRY, EXPLAINEDTO ME HE HAD TO DRIVE FROM 53RDAND SPRING ALL THE WAY OUT TO204TH AND DODGE IN REGARDS TORESPONSE.HE SAID THAT'S THE REASON WHYRESPONSE TIMES ARE GOING UP.WE HAVE SO MUCH AREA TO COVER ASA CITY RIGHT NOW, AND WE JUSTDON'T HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS TOCOVER IT.MAYOR STOTHERT: YOU CAN LISTENTO TWITTER OR MEAN STREETS.I LISTEN TO THE POLICE CHIEFTODD SCHMADERER.I THINK THERE'S A REALDIFFERENCE BETWEEN ME AND HEATHMELLO.THAT IS, I DO TRUST THE CHIEFAND HIS COMMAND STAFF.PRIORITY ONE CALLS, THE RESPONSETIME HAS DECREASED SINCE I'VEBEEN MAYOR.KRISTYNA: WE EXPECT MOREINFORMATION AS SOON AS TOMORROWABOUT THE NEXT MOVE.NEITHER THEY NOR THE POLICECHIEF HAVE ENDORSED EITHERCANDIDATE, EVEN THOUGH CHIEF'S

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To discuss what’s next, whether it will endorse either candidate or continue to stay out of it. OPOA leadership declined to talk on camera, but did say each member’s opinion is considered before making a decision.

One criteria considered in making an endorsement is a candidate’s stance on public safety, a topic also broached in Tuesday night’s mayoral debate.

“Just two weeks ago speaking to a front line police officer at fish-fry explained to me he had to drive from 53rd and Spring all the way out to 204th and Dodge in regards to response,” Heath Mello said. “He said, ‘That's the reason why response times are going up. We have so much area to cover as a city right now and we just don't have enough officers to cover it.’”

“You can listen to Twitter, or Mean Streets. I listen to the Police Chief Todd Schmaderer,” Mayor Jean Stothert said. “I think there's a real difference in me and Heath Mello is I do trust the chief and his command staff. Priority one calls, the response time has decreased since I've been mayor.”

Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer also hasn't endorsed either candidate, but he did appear at Stothert's reelection announcement.